Slow Cookers, is the one from Tesco any good?

Planet X

Morphy Richards. They’re all much of a muchness. 😀. Made a mistake about 20 years ago of buying a big one……..rarely used, gave it away. Kids moved out also…….happy days.

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123319462#Comment_123319462

Slow cooker, I presume.

GR, you're completely overthinking this. Just buy the slow cooker and give it a go. If you don't rate it, you're down 25 quid. A complete beginner like you doesn't need an Instant Pot or similar, imo. We have a Ninja Foodi and while Mr. DH uses it a lot, if it broke tomorrow I'd happily reclaim the counter space and wouldn't miss it for a second.

Keep an eye on the Lidl and Aldi specials, and the next time they have a cast iron "event", buy yourself a 2.5 or 3L casserole. It'll last forever if you look after it.

GalaxyRyder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123319115#Comment_123319115

Do you have a link for the model you own?

I see there's so many different types of Instant Pots, they get phenomenal reviews mostly, except when compared to a "smoker" for doing pulled pork.

I think a "smoker" is an outdoor barbecue of some kind.

positron

I have the 5.7L Instant Pot since 2019: https://www.amazon.ie/Instant-Pot-Electric-Pressure-Stainless/dp/B00OP26T4K/ref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa?crid=2V14F0S6B1Q1I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pr4fnMg347Q3jqiT9APyUuiYyf18GbNQ44QA8AQXltMhNV5v7GNDrEYaH0Www5czPc1oewZVy38EOJdQaME67GAhDlI47_8GY2x-nMopsAcLFxvYpvodM6ewQkkoNbDfX_98M9qKTkHJdhdM9NIvbIdgqRlwRx78jR_74Djq8kcRAdbcxDQo0pLj2JLbUUC09n_MD9rt6iTAPTL5mRw2bfq6G3FlJZKYvZlmIC8q3qN-19RoqCNjQur97eMphtUbyHj7d19GE53HKdd3fOTIqZSFaXxVgcjMmh8uHMukQZE.gsNOqigJeRcUwHX9fnmAQZnrut6NXOW_swFk9xyzZ5s&dib_tag=se&keywords=instant%2Bpot&qid=1743600506&sprefix=instant%2Bpot%2Caps%2C242&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

There are many electric pressure cookers - they are probably all decent, but 'Instant Pot' is a company/brand themselves and they have only 3-4 models, all minor variations / sizes, but essentially one very well executed product.

The origin and success of the brand also makes very interesting read:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhochman/2018/01/24/instant-pot-inventor-explains-why-the-worlds-gone-mad-for-slow-cooking/

GalaxyRyder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123319849#Comment_123319849

Price is spot on.

Did you buy yours off amazon?

Based on ease of use and how many dishes can be prepared with the instant pot, I'd have to prioritize getting this ahead of a slow cooker.

I know I could pick up a model at Curries but I don't think it's priced as well as that model on amazon (I'd go for the three litre model, should be okay for most cuts I'd imagine, pork/beef/lamb shoulder or butts etc.

positron

Yes, from amazon.co.uk.

Slow cooker is one dish a day affair isn't it? And you still need to sauté in a pan etc. Instant Pot can handle it all - sauté in instant pot, throw the rest of the ingredients and then pressure cook, saving a lot of time, and adding all the other benefits like better nutrition lock-in, low energy usage etc. If you want to cook more than one dish in instant pot - it's tricky - you could get another inner pot (20-30 euro) but we never tried that route. We have couple of old style stove top pressure cookers as well - sitting unused ever since.

I didn't know they did a 3l version - although I also not sure if that would be enough for our family of 4.

Boardnashea

OP I would go cheap and cheerful to start. It will work the same as a more expensive model, and if you fall in love with the outcomes you can look at a more fancy version to upgrade. If you use it twice and it sits on a shelf for the rest of the year, then no loss.

GalaxyRyder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123322446#Comment_123322446

You don't find the 6L version a little big if you're doing something relatively small like a pork loin?

I've also read the "Duo" is older, and the "Pro" is the newer version.

When I search for Instant Pot,

Amazon.ie : instant pot

Quite a few different models appear.

Hard to know which is the best choice.

deandean

OP I've used 3 or 4 makes of slow cooker over the years. They're all the same. Just buy a cheap one.

But for bigger meals - batch cooking - I use my big saucepan about 8L capacity in the oven at 95DegC.

Tree

a) buy a cooker that matches what you cook. If you like to batch cook, bigger works fine

b) I used ot have a small slow cooker that I liked a lot, and (after six years) traded up to in instant pot duo 60 in ~2016 (gave the slow cooker to a colleague, he got on great with it). Both great options to be honest. My super cheap slow cooker didnt' have a timer but I stuck a timer plug on it.

c) if you like cooking beans from scratch, the instant pot is great.

d) if you're after handsoff cooking, slow cookers are great. Instant pot cn be a bit more handson for sauteeing etc. Either way, look up budgetbytes, they have great slow cooker recipes and you can adapt it for instant pot or oven as appropriate.

Long story short, decide /what/ you want to cook and in which way, and you're golden. And as said, at worst a cheap slow cooker isn't such an investment…

GalaxyRyder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123348746#Comment_123348746

If you had to compare an instant pot to a slow cooker, which would you be more inclined toward?

I hear great things about the instant pot, but I'm unsure how frequently I'd actually use it…….. I'd probably have to check out new recipes, which wouldn't be a bad thing.

I'm trying to view an instant pot in store to see the size of 3 versus 6 litre, but unsure if they're on display in Curry's or Harvey Norman (or where else may sell them).

Great mention on the budgetbytes site.

Tree

I'm now a permanent instant pot convert, but less so for the slow cooking and more for quick cooking of beans and sauces. My OH is vegetarian so I cook a lot less meat than others might. I have slow cooked chicken in it to get a nice pulld chicken (Freeezes great, really versatile) but mostly it's pressur cooking.

We're a 2 person household, so 6L is a better fit than I'd have expected, you can cook smaller volumes in it once it hits the min line. ITs great for beans and daals (we box and freeze leftovers in takeaway containers). I used to slow cook tomato sauces in the slow cooker but now I pressure cook them (1 can is good for two people and is a good amount for the cooker). I use it at least once a week, sometimes multiple times in a day.

My colleague who took the slow cooker thought it was magic for things like porridge and slow cooked pieces of meat.

Strictly, there's nothing you can't do with these devices that you can't do without. You can boil beans on the hob, slow cook meat in the oven… For me the instant pot is great for speed, but like, you still have to do some handson work to get a great meal out of it, like sauteeeing onions, layering flavours before and after pressure cooking. You'll find plenty of articles about how the IP ain't all that, but then you read them and they just dumped eeverything in and hoped for the best.

GalaxyRyder

Buy CROCK-POT CSC078 Slow Cooker - Black | CurrysIE

I said I'd go with this model, just cause it's cheap, apparently good, and I want to see if I'd use it as much as I think I will.

Thoughts?

LambshankRedemption

Go for it.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123382043#Comment_123382043

Really, there isn't much to a crock pot. You are over thinking this. That one will be fine.

To me, the real question is, do you want a crock pot? (Personally, I have no use for one). It seems that you do want one, so buy it!

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123382066#Comment_123382066

Someone earlier in the thread said "the cheap ones are no good and dont last".

My experience has been the opposite. The cheap ones are simple so less to go wrong. Mine has a knob with 3 settings, hot, warm and off and it's over 20 years old.

GalaxyRyder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123382066#Comment_123382066

Well, I desperately want to start preparing more diverse meats than the ones I have been.

I'm on a health kick that's comprised of lot of salads, a range of veg, whole non-processed foods, but to make them taste good, I need a good, tender and flavourful meat to go with it.

This was last nights meal which looks healthy, except for the "ribs" of sorts that I bought pre-packed from tesco with barbecue sauce.

I figure a slow cooker will be good for babyback ribs, slow cooked pull-apart chicken, pulled bork, braised and slow cooked brisket etc., all of which I freaking love but can't currently make, and am unwilling to leave my oven on for 8 hours.

Then I can make all that healthy non-processed food more tolerable.

LambshankRedemption

There's a thread over in Relationship Issues about a guy who is wondering why is wife is mad at him for buying a new car without telling her. It's only 300 a month for the next x number of years.

You OP, have been talking about buying a slow cooker for 26 euros for 3 weeks now. I say absolutely go for it, and 3 weeks from now you will be wondering why you didn't get one sooner.

Also, if you are trying to incorporate more vegs into your diet, the slow cooker is great for soups as well.

GalaxyRyder

The 6 litre slow cooker is gone out of Tesco now.

There's a 3.7 litre model available, or I could get the same from Curry's (called a "crock pot").

Is 3.7 litre sufficient size to cook pulled pork, or pulled chicken (i.e. a whole chicken)?

Tree

Check out if someone is getting rid of one on adverts or some freecycle type site. 3.7 will be a squeeze for a whole chicken. As for pulled pork you can just use smaller cuts

the beer revolu

Measure the capacity of a few pots at home to give you an idea of size.

Keith186

If it's in Tesco just bring a chilled chicken over and open the slow cooker box to see if it fits!

Anyway, not 100% sure if it would fit. Have a basic slow cooker and find it great, I find it gives a lot more flavour and the meat is always lovely and tender but haven't tried a whole chicken.

GalaxyRyder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123394706#Comment_123394706

What size is your slow cooker, in litres?

I reckon maybe I could just buy a bunch of thighs instead of a whole chicken, to make pulled chicken.

For beef and pork, I guess I could just slice the butt up and layer it to make it fit.

GalaxyRyder

Buy CROCK-POT SCCPRC507B-060 Slow Cooker - Black | CurrysIE

Slightly bigger one in Curry's for 50 beans.

Has a timer.

So, 56 euro including delivery. At that price I could just pay another 33 euro and get a 6 L instant pot:

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Smart Cooker 5.7 L - Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Saute Pan, Yoghurt Maker, Steamer and Food Warmer, Black/Stainless Steel : Amazon.ie: Home & Kitchen

Actually this one is priced at 63 euro now?

What the hell?

Dan Steely

Amazon one looks like a bargain. 2-pin plug?

Keith186

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123395457#Comment_123395457

I would say about 5L, don't have the box of it and it has food cooking now so can't measure. Looks like a more basic version of the one you posted above, possibly slightly narrower.

cython

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123396194#Comment_123396194

I doubt it, but if it's anything like a (perhaps) slightly different model of Instant Pot that I have, it's a kettle lead between the appliance and the wall socket, in which case the factory plug is almost irrelevant, and you can just pick up a cheap 3 pin, or reuse one that many people have lying around from old hardware/appliances

romekzadra

I don't use a slow cooker now, I prefer the Airfryer more.

GalaxyRyder

I bought the Instant Pot (pressure cooker), and just had the best chicken of my life yesterday.

A revolution in cooking.

Super easy to use and super quick.

GalaxyRyder

I'm just going to add that I prepared 1.5 kgs of pork shoulder in the instant pot (using apple juice and spice), and it was heavenly.

"Pulled pork", or fall-apart pork was the result.

It lasted about 3 days worth of meals.

Had it with salads and a variety of carbs.

Probably one of the best tasting foods I've ever made.

Instant Pot is a hidden culinary gem.